Mrs. Amy Velma Lee-Bowie, 108, of Phenix City, AL passed Friday, August 20, 2021 in Phenix City, AL.

Funeral service will be 3:00 p.m. EST, Friday, August 27, 2021 at Nichols Chapel A.M.E Church, Phenix City, AL with Rev. Isaac Hudson, officiating. Interment to follow in Lakeview Memory Gardens. Visitation is Thursday, August 26, 2021 from 1-5 p.m. EST with a family hour from 3-5 p.m. EST.

Regal: What better word to describe our Amy Velma Lee Bowie (more commonly known as “Velma”), who carried herself at all times with queenly grace and noble bearing. Born February 6, 1913 to the union of Booker T. Washington Lee and Annie Faulk Lee, in Evergreen, Alabama, a place not typically noted for royal births. Notwithstanding, it was precisely the place chosen by Heaven for this Royal Princess to begin an incredible journey which would take 108 years to complete.

Velma was the youngest of 8 children in a super close-knit family. Her siblings were Carrie Bell, Billie Odessa Smith, Daisy Mae Bradley, Maude Lee Virden, Booker T. Lee, John Lawyer Lee, and Esther Lee. By every account, life in the family home was demanding, yet largely carefree and enriching for Velma.

She learned early in life love of the Lord from growth with family in the Baptist Church, obedience and respect from a stern, disciplinarian mother and selfless love from a compassionate, protective father. Velma completed her elementary and secondary education in public schools in Evergreen. She then matriculated at Alabama State Teachers College, graduating with an associate’s degree in education in 1940. She returned to Alabama State later and obtained her bachelor’s degree in 1956.

Velma first met the love of her life, Lloyd Augusta Bowie, during her freshmen year at Alabama State when he was a senior. This shy young girl did not want to make a connection with this out-going, handsome young man. It was not until after she graduated that she met him again. He happened to be the principal who hired her at his school for her first teaching position. Much of her shyness had diminished by this point after three additional years at Alabama State and she was more prepared to deal with this FINE MAN. Love prevailed and Velma (affectionately called “Bear” by Lloyd) and Lloyd (affectionately called “Daddy” by Velma) were joined in holy matrimony in 1941. During the course of this union, Bear and Daddy gave birth to three daughters: Sandra (who passed away in 1987), Pamela and Jacquelyn. In 1967, they informally brought Eddie Smith, then an orphan, into their home, accepting and nurturing him as the son they never had. Bear and Daddy continued in their matrimonial bond until his death in 1981.

They established their first home base in Georgiana, then relocated to Greenville in 1952. Velma did her BEST at all she did – and she was a veritable DYNAMO in caring for her daughters! She would spend the week with the girls alone while Lloyd served as a principal in a different town. He would be at home on their weekends. Her home management skills were phenomenal, juggling the needs of her daughters with the demands of her full-time teaching position that she held throughout this period. Throughout this period, she also fine-tuned the stern, disciplinarian traits she developed from her mother with the compassion and protectiveness from her father. These traits were further perfected over the years by her activities at First Missionary Baptist Church, in Greenville, particularly, the compassion and protectiveness. Velma shared her spiritual walk with the girls by way of example. In addition to regular church attendance at their church, she volunteered in various ways; to include, serving on the usher board, singing in a choir, serving on the Deacon’s Wives Group, and serving in the Missionary Society.

In 1963, Velma and Lloyd made their final move to Phenix City. Lloyd came to Phenix City to serve as principal at South Girard High School while Velma got an elementary school position. The family had been reduced to three at home—Velma, Lloyd. and Jacquelyn. Sandra had gotten married, living in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Pamela was in her freshmen year at Xavier University in New Orleans, Louisiana. It was here that Velma connected with Nichols Chapel AME Church in 1966. Over Velma’s 50+ year tenure at Nichols Chapel, her commitment to Christ was steadfast, never wavering, and she served in several church capacities until age and infirmity forced her to curtail her involvement. She continued to grow in her outreach in the Phenix City community.

Despite the insidious effects of aging on her health, Velma maintained her poise, dignity, and devotion to God and to her family. Her greatest delights continued to include time spent with her children and grandchildren; and right up to her closing moments, hearing treasured songs of hope and courage, which gave her comfort and inspiration to fight the good fight.

Velma rests with her labors lovingly completed, leaving to carry forth their royal legacy, her children, Sandra Mason (having preceded her in rest), Pamela (and Thomas) Smith; Jacquelyn Hayter; and Eddie (Veverly) Smith; Grandchildren, Wendell (Sharon) Mason; Lloyd (Phyllis) Mason, Marla Willis, Terrence (India) Mason, Sean (Chanel) Smith, Ravi Smith, Tony (Tesenga Shá) Smith; Patrick (Holly) Poole; Tanya Hayter, Marie Smith; Joseph Smith, and Preanna Smith; great-grandchildren, Sierra, Abrey, Adriana, Alexandria, Jeremiah, Olivia, Joshua, Jewel, Lorraine, Jude and Luciana; great-great-grandchildren, Jasmine Enoki, and Dr. Velma Bradley her niece; and a host of other family and friends.

Regal: She has lived her earthly “royal priesthood” status nobly, elegantly, lovingly, able to say with St. Paul: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” And so we trust that the blessing recorded in 2 Timothy 4:7-8, reserved for all who trust in the King Eternal, awaits her: